Bridge flooring



Nov. 8, 1927.

G. W. WARMOTH ET AL BRIDGE FLOORING Filed April 17. 1925 INVENTORJGeorge TV. War-math aneL R W z? r.- By a er enlverge ATTORNEYS PatentedNov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WARMOTH, OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND ROY WERTENBERGER, WABASH,INDIANA; SAID WERTENBERGER A SSIGNOR 'IO SAIJj WARMOTH.

BRIDGE FLOORING.

Application filed April 17, 1926. Serial No. 102,601.

Our invention relates to improvements in tread floors for bridges,driveways and the like wherein the tread or floor is made of laminatedede-set wooden strips. This type of tread or floor consists as a rule ofcreosoted strips of wood, generally oak, two by four or two by six incross sectional diameter and fourteen to eighteen feet long. Thesestrips are set edgewise in forming the flooring and 1 in some instancesthe flooring is formed of sections comprising a plurality of strips heldtogether by bolts.

Our invention is primarily designed to provide improved means forsecuring the strips together to form the sections and to provide meansfor securing the sections together in abutting relation.

For the purpose of disclosing our invention we have illustrated certainembodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view partly in sec tion-.of a floorin embodying ourinvention;

Fig. 2 is an en arged sectional detail showing the manner of securingthe flooring sections together;

F i 3 is a partial side elevation of one of the ooring sectionsshowingthe means for securing the tubular tie bar in position;

Fig. 4 is a detail section showing the looking means for the dowel pinsFig. 5 is a side elevation of one end of the tubular tie bar; Fig. 6 isa side elevation of a modified form of tubular tie bar, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view thereof showing the means forholding the dowel pins in locked position.

In the embodiment? illustrated the floor comprises a plurality ofsections 1 each section consisting of a series of laminated edgesetstrips 2. These strips are secured together to form the sections 1 bytubular tie bars 3 which pass through the various strips and haveportions of their outer edges flared outwardly to form the out turnedlips 4., the out flared portions however being counter-sunk in thesurface of the outer strips. For connecting the sections 11= togetherwhen the flooring islaid we provide dowel pins 5 the opposite ends ofwhich take into the tubular tie rods 1 3. These pins are preferablyprovided at. their center with an annular collar or flange 6 to one orthe other of the tie rods of the adjacent sections and are providedtowards their center with serrations 7 which are engaged by the inturnededges 8 of the tie rods whereby after the dowel pins have been insertedand the sections drawn together the tdowel. pins will be securely lockedin posiion.

In Figs. 6 and 7 we have illustrated a modified form of tubular tie rod.In this form the tie rod when placed in position has its entire outerend belled or flared outwardly as at 9 and at a point slightly removedfrom its outer end the material is cut transversely and the out portionturned inwardly to form a pair of spring lips 10 which when the dowelpin 11 is inserted in position frictionally engage the pin to hold thesame against displacement. The tubular tie rod may be formed of a solidtube or as shown in Fig. 7, a tube which is longitudinally split.

While we have shown and described our invention as being particularlyapplicable to bridge floors and to floors wherein sections are formed oflaminated strips, it will be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the particular use or construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described. It is apparent that the connectingmeans may be used for joining or connecting adjacent boards and in otherstructures than in flooring.

W claim as our invention:

1. wooden floor comprising a plurality of sections each formed oflaminated wooden strips arranged to be edge-set, tubular tie rodsextending through the laminations of each section and having their outerends flared and counter-sunk for locking the laminations together, dowelpins socketing in the ends of the tie rods of adjacent sections andmeans in said tie rods for engaging said dowel pins and locking the sameagainst lateral displacement.

2. A wooden floor comprising a plurality of sections each section formedof a plurality of laminations arranged to be edge-set, tubular tierodsextending through said laminations and having their outer endsflared to lock. the laminationsof a section together, dowel pinsarranged to socket in the ends of the tie rods of adjacent sections andmeans on the tie rods for frictionally engaging the dowel to .preventlateral displacement,

3. A wooden floor comprising a plurality together extending through saidlaminations' and having their outer ends outwardly flared to lock thelaminations together, dowel pins 1 arranged to socket in the ends of tierods of adjacent sections, the tie rods having a portion thereof bentinwardly to engage the dowel pins and frictionally lock the same againstdisplacement.

4. A wooden floor comprising a plurality of sections, each formed oflaminated wooden strips arranged to he edge set, tubular tie rodsextending through the laminations of each section and having portions oftheir outer edges flared and counter-sunk for looking the laminationstogether, dowel pins socketing in the ends of the tie rods of adj acentsections, said tie rods and dowel pins having engaging portions forlocking the dowel pins against lateral displacement.

5. A wooden floor comprising a plurality of sections each section beingformed of a plurality of edge set laminations and a plurality of hollowtubular tie rods for securing said laminations together extendingthrough said laminations and having portions of their outer endsoutwardly flared and counter-sunk to lock the laminations together.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Indianapolis andWabash, respectively, Indiana, this 9th day of April,

A. D; one thousand nine hundred and twenty six. I

' GEORGE W. WARMOTH.

ROY WERTENBERGER.

